[Vision2020] real economic development in Moscow

[Jeff Harkins]

You wrote

>'Entrepreneurs are willing to take risks, provided there is a probable and
>appropriate return for those risks.  An important element for them is a
>relative predictability of the business climate.  Divisiveness and social
>conflict are generally not good indicators of a stable market place.'
>
>How do you define 'social conflicts?'

Social conflicts - groups of people don't agree - and when the 
rhetoric heightens, members resort to name calling, derogatory 
remarks and the like.  Here is a mild example from recent a 
contributor to Vision2020:

         "The GMA candidates are "ostriches" with their collective 
heads in the sand.  And they are very poor stewards of the environment."

>And I guess I'm curious why would
>you raise specific issues here, call them pollutants, and then want to
>discuss them off-list?

  I raised the issues because Joe Campbell challenged me to identify 
factors relative to our challenges with economic development and the 
current city council

Because I think the time invested in a dialogue with Bruce 
Livingstone would be better served if he and I clarified our 
positions to each other rather than serve as kindling to
to the fire.

>Finally, do conservatives never question their opponents' honesty 'to
>obfuscate issues?'

I won't speak for other conservatives.  I try my level best to avoid 
that tactic.

Does that answer your questions?




>Sunil
>
>
> >From: Jeff Harkins <jeffh at moscow.com>
> >To: "Bruce and Jean Livingston" <jeanlivingston at turbonet.com>;,
> ><vision2020 at moscow.com>
> >Subject: Re: [Vision2020] real economic development in Moscow
> >Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2007 22:22:17 -0700
> >
> >Thanks for weighing in Bruce.
> >
> >Frankly, the most important element of your post was your closing
> >comment - and I will respond to that first.  I have not discussed my
> >comments with Wayne - he is the kind of fellow that can allow me to
> >have my own point of view and if he disagrees, we discuss it and move
> >on.  Just the sort of person that we need in a leadership position in
> >the City of Moscow.  He has experience and judgment. We would do well
> >to elect him.
> >
> >As to where Wayne stands on these various issues - ask him - I am
> >certain he has his positions and he would be pleased to share them with
> >you.
> >
> >You might have missed the closing paragraph of my post. My post was
> >to highlight for Joe Campbell some of the issues that lead to a
> >conclusion that the current city government (or the current climate
> >in Moscow) is anti-growth or anti business.  The point was not to
> >revisit the "right or wrong" of those decisions.  I thought I made it
> >rather clear that the issues are necessarily philosophical and
> >ideological in tenor - thus the outcomes are necessarily divisive.  I
> >do have positions and opinions on many of the issues - others I don't
> >have much interest in.  But, I stand by my conclusion that each of
> >these issues casts a shadow or cloud on Moscow as a place for an
> >entrepreneur to invest his or her capital.  Entrepreneurs are willing
> >to take risks, provided there is a probable and appropriate return
> >for those risks.  An important element for them is a relative
> >predictability of the business climate.  Divisiveness and social
> >conflict are generally not good indicators of a stable market place.
> >
> >Hopefully, that clarifies the list of issues and their importance to
> >this upcoming election.  Collectively, the climate is murky - quite
> >polluted.
> >
> >Now if you wish to discuss any of the issues cited as to our relative
> >positions, I would be pleased to do that.  It would likely be
> >interesting and productive.  Probably best to have that dialogue
> >offlist so that we don't add excess murkiness to the already murky
> >situation.
> >
> >
>
>
>=======================================================
>  List services made available by First Step Internet,
>  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
>                http://www.fsr.net
>           mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
>=======================================================